Wallabies Prevail in Thriller With Lions

Australian Wallabies flyhalf James O’Connor passes the ball to teammate Christian Leali’ifano.

The British and Irish Lions series in Australia will go into a decider next weekend after the hosts held on for a 16-15 victory in an error-strewn encounter in Melbourne on Saturday.

Following Kurtley Beale’s miss in the closing seconds of last weekend’s Test, it was the Lions’ turn to see victory slip away as Leigh Halfpenny’s last-minute penalty attempt from nearly 60 meters fell short. The Welsh fullback had been in majestic kicking form throughout the match, but this was an attempt too far, even for him.

Australia deserved the win for persisting in the closing 20 minutes, when the Lions, eyeing a first series victory in Australia since 1989, appeared strangely subdued. After holding off wave after wave of Australian attacks, the Lions relented in the 74th minute when center Adam Ashley-Cooper crashed through from five meters out for the only try of the game.